The Romanian version of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2: Assessment of its psychometric properties and gender invariance in Romanian adults

Measurement invariance of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 across country, ethnicity, sex, and sexual orientation: A cross-cultural study between Brazil and the U.S

Intuitive eating is defined as being connected to internal hunger, satiety, and appetitive cues and flexibly using these cues to determine when, what, and how much to eat. The Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) is a widely used measure of facets of intuitive eating. However, the scale has shown unstable factor structure in several validation studies and there is a lack of studies investigating the measurement invariance of the IES-2 beyond sex. We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the IES-2, testing several factor structures among Brazilian and U.S. samples of men and women; to test measurement invariance across country of origin, ethnicity, sex, and sexual orientation; and to evaluate its internal consistency. Three models of the latent structure of the IES-2 were tested using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) in a total of 1072 young adults (452 Brazilians and 620 Americans), aged 18-35 years. Results demonstrated that only a 3-factor solution with 11 items of the IES-2 showed adequate fit to the data for both countries. This model demonstrated scalar invariance across sex and sexual orientation, but only configural invariance was found across country of origin and ethnicity. Good internal consistencies were found for both the Brazilian and American samples. The present study provides support for a 3-factor solution with 11 items of the IES-2, to Brazilian and American samples. The study also offers evidence of internal consistency, and invariance between sex (i.e., male and female) and sexual orientation (i.e., heterosexual participants and sexual minority participants).

The Intuitive Eating Scale-3: Development and psychometric evaluation

Intuitive eating has been found to protect against disordered eating and preserve well-being. Yet, there are methodological (length), conceptual (inconsideration of medical, value-based, and access-related reasons for food consumption), and psychometric (item wording) concerns with its most common measure, the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2). To address these concerns, we developed the IES-3 and investigated its psychometric properties with U.S. community adults. Across three online studies, we evaluated the IES-3's factorial validity using exploratory factor analysis (EFA; Study 1; N = 957; Mage = 36.30), as well as confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), bifactor-CFA, and bifactor-ESEM (Study 2; N = 1152; Mage = 40.95), and cross-validated the optimal model (Study 3; N = 884; Mage = 38.54). We examined measurement invariance across samples and time, differential item functioning (age, body mass index [BMI], gender), composite reliability, and validity. Study 1 revealed a 12-item, 4-factor structure (unconditional permission to eat, eating for physical reasons, reliance on hunger and satiety cues, body-food choice congruence). In Study 2, a bifactor-ESEM model with a global intuitive eating factor and four specific factors best fit the data, which was temporally stable across three weeks. This model also had good fit in Study 3 and, across Studies 2 and 3, and was fully invariant and lacked measurement bias in terms of age, gender, and BMI. Associations between latent IES-3 factors and age, gender, and BMI were invariant across Studies 2 and 3. Composite reliability and validity (relationships with disordered eating, embodiment, body image, well-being, and distress; negligible relationship with impression management) of the retained model were also supported. The 12-item IES-3 demonstrates strong psychometric properties in U.S. community adults. Research is now needed using the IES-3 in other cultural contexts and social identity groups.

Translation and validation of a Romanian version of the Breast Appreciation Scale (BrAS)

The 9-item Breast Appreciation Scale (BrAS; Swami et al., 2022) is a recently developed instrument that assesses a woman's positive breasted experiences. To date, however, the psychometric properties of the BrAS have only been investigated in English-speaking women. Here, we report on the translation and validation of a novel, Romanian version of the BrAS. A total of 555 cisgender women from Romania completed a Romanian translation of the BrAS along with additional measures of body image and psychological well-being. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis identified a stable unidimensional model of the BrAS, with all nine items retained. Additionally, the Romanian BrAS evidenced complete invariance (i.e., through to latent mean invariance) across mothers and non-mothers, though mothers had higher observed scores than non-mothers. Evidence of convergent, concurrent, and incremental validity was very strong when based on observed BrAS scores, but slightly weaker when based on latent BrAS scores. In particular, greater latent breast appreciation was significantly associated with higher body appreciation, lower breast size dissatisfaction, and higher self-esteem. Overall, these results suggest that the psychometric properties of the Romanian BrAS are robust and that the instrument can be effectively deployed in this linguistic context.

A comprehensive analysis concerning eating behavior associated with chronic diseases among Romanian community nurses

Introduction

Lifestyle factors, including inadequate eating patterns, emerge as a critical determinant of chronic disease. Apart from caring for patients, nurses should also take an active role in monitoring and managing their own health. Understanding the intricate relationship between nurses' eating behavior and managing their own health is crucial for fostering a holistic approach to healthcare, therefore our study aimed to evaluate eating behavior and demographic factors influencing chronic disease prevalence in a sample of community nurses from Romania.

Methods

Between October-November 2023, 1920 community nurses were invited to answer an online survey, using an advertisement in their professional network. Of them, 788 responded. In the survey, which included a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire with 53 food items, the Intuitive Eating Survey 2 (IES-2), and demographic items were used.

Results

A multivariate model was built for the prediction of the association between eating behavior and other factors associated with chronic diseases. The majority of participants were females (95.1%), with the largest age group falling between 40 and 49.9 years (48.2%). Regarding the EFSA criteria for adequate carbohydrate and fat intake, 20.2% of the group have a high intake of carbohydrates, respectively, 43.4% of the group have a high intake of fat. Analysis of chronic diseases indicated that 24.9% of individuals reported at least one diagnosis by a physician. The presence of chronic disease was associated with a low level of perceived health status, with an OR = 3.388, 95%CI (1.684-6.814), compared to those reporting excellent or very good perceived health status. High stress had an OR = 1.483, 95%CI (1.033-2.129). BMI had an OR = 1.069, 95%CI (1.032-1.108), while low carbohydrate diet score had an OR = 0.956, 95%CI (0.920-0.992). Gender and IES-2 did not significantly contribute to the model, but their effect was controlled.

Discussion

By unraveling the intricate interplay between nutrition, lifestyle, and health outcomes in this healthcare cohort, our findings contribute valuable insights for the development of targeted interventions and support programs tailored to enhance the well-being of community nurses and, by extension, the patients they support.

The Intuitive Eating Scale-2 Adapted for Mexican Pregnant Women: Psychometric Properties and Influence of Sociodemographic Variables

A weight-inclusive approach to health involves the promotion of intuitive eating, i.e., the individual's ability to be aware of their physiological hunger and satiety cues to determine when and how much to eat, while paying attention to how certain foods affect their body. The second version of the Intuitive Eating Scale (IES-2) evaluates four interrelated traits of intuitive eating: Unconditional Permission to Eat (UPE), Eating for Physical rather than emotional Reasons (EPR), Reliance on internal Hunger/Satiety Cues (RHSC), and Body-Food Choice Congruence (BFCC). In this study, our aim was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a Mexican Spanish adaptation of the IES-2 for pregnant women and examine the relationship between intuitive eating traits and maternal sociodemographic characteristics. A sample of 514 pregnant women answered our IES-2 adaptation and a sociodemographic questionnaire. We determined the quality, validity, and reliability of our adaptation through descriptive measures, frequency distributions, intra-class correlations, and extreme answer group comparison for each item, eliminating those with weak technical properties. We then performed an exploratory principal component analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis. Last, we analyzed the association between intuitive eating and maternal sociodemographic and reproductive variables through correlation tests and multivariable linear regressions. Psychometric tests confirmed the validity and reliability of our IES-2 adaptation, which comprised 18 out of the 23 original items. Notably, both the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded not four but five factors, due to the EPR subscale splitting in two (the "emotional" and "physical" components of EPR). We attribute this novel finding to the emotional manifestations that naturally accompany pregnancy, which may incline pregnant women to base their eating behaviors more on the emotional than the physical component that would otherwise dominate their EPR trait. Further research is also needed about the UPE subscale during pregnancy, due to item removal and subtle changes in meaning. Finally, the influence of sociodemographic variables on the IES-2 score was extremely low, suggesting that other variables, possibly of a psychological nature, may have greater influence on a pregnant woman's intuitive eating.

Psychometric properties of a Romanian translation of the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS): An examination using bifactor exploratory structural equation modelling

The Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS; Henderson-King & Henderson-King, 2005) is a widely used measure for the assessment of attitudes toward cosmetic surgery. Here, we examined the psychometrics of a novel Romanian translation of the ACSS. A total of 1275 Romanian adults (889 women, 386 men) completed the ACSS alongside additional, related measures. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with a first split-half subsample supported extraction of the original 3-factor model consisting of Intrapersonal, Social, and Consider dimensions. In a second split-half subsample, we found that a 3-factor bifactor exploratory structural equation model (B-ESEM) had superior fit compared to all alternative models that were tested. This B-ESEM representation had well-defined G-factor with adequate composite reliability, and its S-factors were also generally well-defined. Across subsamples, the optimal model showed strong or partial strong invariance across gender, with women having significantly higher latent means on the Consider factor relative to men. Evidence of convergent validity was also generally good in women, especially for the G-factor of the ACSS, but was attenuated in men. Overall, these findings indicate that the Romanian version of the ACSS has adequate psychometric properties. We also encourage scholars to consider B-ESEM representations of the ACSS in other national settings.

Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) in a sample of community adults

BACKGROUND

There is a growing attention on intuitive eating (IE) styles in the Western world that has not yet reached Arab countries, which is likely due to the lack of psychometrically sound measures of the IE construct for Arabic-speaking people. The current study aims to examine the psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the most widely used measure of IE-the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), in an Arabic-speaking community population from Lebanon.

METHODS

Two samples of Arabic-speaking community adults from Lebanon (sample 1: n = 359, 59.9% females, age 22.75 ± 7.04 years; sample 2: n = 444, 72.7% females, age 27.25 ± 9.53 years) were recruited through online convenience sampling. The translation and back-translation method was applied to the IES-2 for linguistic validation. Factorial validity was investigated using an Exploratory Factor Analysis & Confirmatory Factor Analysis strategy. Composite reliability and sex invariance were examined. We also tested convergent and criterion-related validity through correlations with other theoretically plausible constructs.

RESULTS

Nine out of the original 23 items were removed because they either loaded below 0.40 and/or cross-loaded too highly on multiple factors. This resulted in four domains (Unconditional Permission to Eat, Eating for Physical Rather than Emotional Reasons, Reliance on Hunger and Satiety Cues, and Body-Food Choice Congruence) and 14 items retained. Internal reliability estimates were excellent, with McDonald's ω values ranging from 0.828 to 0.923 for the four factors. Multigroup analysis established configural, thresholds, metric, scalar, strict invariance across gender. Finally, higher IES-2 total scores were significantly correlated with lower body dissatisfaction scores and more positive eating attitudes, thus attesting to convergent and criterion-related validity of the scale.

CONCLUSIONS

The current findings provide preliminary evidence for the appropriate psychometric qualities of the Arabic 14-item, four-factor structure IES-2; thereby supporting its use at least among Arabic-speaking community adults.

Perception of disease, dyadic coping, and the quality of life of oncology patients in the active treatment phase and their life partners: an approach based on the actor-partner interdependence model

Objective

The aim of this study based on the Systemic Transactional Model was to examine the relationship between dyadic coping and (1) disease perception and (2) quality of life of a sample of cancer patients and their life partners.

Method

This cross-sectional study included 138 oncological dyads. The following questionnaires were used: Stress Appraisal Measure, Dyadic Coping Inventory, and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30. Data collected was analysed by applying the actor-partner interdependence model.

Results

The perception of the disease as a threat as well as its centrality significantly negatively influences the positive forms of dyadic coping whilst the perception of the disease as a challenge has a significant positive influence on them. Dyadic coping does not influence symptoms but has significant influences on global health/quality of life.

Conclusion

This study has highlighted new information regarding how couples cope with cancer. The results encourage the inclusion of the perception of the disease and dyadic coping in interventions that aim to improve the quality of life of cancer patients and their life partners.

Psychometric properties of a Greek translation of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) in adults from Cyprus

The construct of intuitive eating is commonly assessed using the 23-item, 4-factor Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2; Tylka & Kroon Van Diest, 2013). In this study, we assessed the psychometric properties of a novel Greek translation of the IES-2 in adults from Cyprus. In Study 1 (N = 626), an exploratory factor analysis indicated that the IES-2 should be conceptualized as consisting of six factors that showed complete invariance across women and men. Study 2 (N = 793), using exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) and beifactor analysis (B-ESEM), indicated that the 6-factor B-ESEM model had adequate fit and evidenced complete invariance across sex once the correlated uniqueness of negatively worded IES-2 items was accounted for. This final model evidenced adequate composite reliability, and a global G-factor evidenced adequate convergent, concurrent, and discriminant validity. In contrast, the IES-2 S-factors showed more equivocal patterns of validity, with some S-factors showing less-than-adequate associations with body image variables, self-esteem, symptoms of disordered eating, and fruit and vegetable intake. In general, these results provide satisfactory evidence of the psychometric properties of the Greek IES-2 in adults from Cyprus, but also suggest that models of IES-2 scores may vary across national or cultural contexts.

Cross-cultural validity of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2: Psychometric evaluation in the Greek-Cypriot population

BACKGROUND: Intuitive eating is defined by eating response to physiological hunger and satiety cues rather than situational or emotional cues and it has been linked to psychological well-being. The 23-item Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) is commonly used to assess the concept of intuitive eating. OBJECTIVE: To develop the Greek version of the IES-2 questionnaire and to test its psychometric qualities. METHODS: Forward and backward translations into Greek and English were completed. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was applied to understand the underlying factor structure of the IES-2, whilst internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha test. The concurrent validity was assessed by evaluating the correlation among the IES-2 and the Eating Attitudes Test-26 Item (EAT-26) questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 379 adults (mean age = 34 years) participated. EFA gave a three-factor structure with the total variance explained being 54.4% . Cronbach’s alpha was 0.87 for the IES-2 total score, as well as 0.90, 0.84 and 0.70 for the IES-2 subscales. The revised IES-2 total score was significantly correlated with EAT-26 total score (rs = –0.46, p <  0.01) and BMI (rs = –0.46, p <  0.01). CONCLUSION: In this sample, the Greek version of the IES-2 showed good psychometric qualities and can be regarded a helpful tool for examining adult intuitive eating behaviours.

Fear of COVID-19 mediates the relationship between negative emotional reactivity and emotional eating

Recent studies have highlighted high levels of emotional eating during the coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic, but have not satisfactorily explained these changing eating patterns. Here, we tested one potential explanatory model broadly based on a biosocial model of emotional eating. Specifically, we examined the extent to which negative emotional reactivity was associated with emotional eating, as well as the mediating role of fear of COVID‐19. A total of 474 women from Romania were asked to complete measures of emotional eating, negative emotional reactivity, and fear of COVID‐19. Mediation analysis showed that higher negative emotional reactivity was significantly and directly associated with greater emotional eating. This direct relationship was also mediated by fear of COVID‐19. These results highlight one possible route through which the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic may have resulted in elevated rates of emotional eating, though further research is needed.

The intuitive eating scale-2: re-evaluating its factor structure using a bifactor exploratory structural equation modelling framework

PURPOSE

Previous studies examining the appropriateness of the 4-factor model of intuitive eating scale-2 (IES-2) scores have returned equivocal results, which may reflect methodological limitations in the way IES-2 scores are modelled. Here, we applied a bifactor-exploratory structural equation modelling (B-ESEM) framework to better understand IES-2 multidimensionality.

METHODS

A total of 603 participants from the United States completed the IES-2, alongside measures of body appreciation, body acceptance from others, and self-esteem. Our analyses compared the fit of various hypothesised models of IES-2 scores.

RESULTS

Models of IES-2 scores based on confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) uniformly showed poor fit. ESEM models showed superior fit to CFA representations and a B-ESEM model showed improved fit over higher-order CFA and B-CFA representations of IES-2 scores. The optimal model was a B-ESEM model that accounted for, through correlated uniqueness (CU), the methodological artefact introduced by negatively-worded IES-2 items. This B-ESEM-CU model was fully invariant across gender and showed adequate construct validity.

CONCLUSION

The B-ESEM-CU framework appears well-suited to understand the multidimensionality of IES-2 scores. A model of IES-2 scores that yields a reliable latent indicator of global intuitive eating while allowing for simultaneous consideration of additional specific factors will likely provide more accurate accounting of the nature and outcomes of intuitive eating.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, cohort study.

Polish Adaptation and Validation of the Intuitive (IES-2) and Mindful (MES) Eating Scales—The Relationship of the Concepts with Healthy and Unhealthy Food Intake (a Cross-Sectional Study)

Intuitive (IE) and mindful (ME) eating share internally focused eating, yet previous studies have shown that these concepts are not strongly correlated, which suggests that they might be differently related to food intake. The study aimed to adapt the original Intuitive (IES-2) and Mindful (MES) Eating Scales to the Polish language, to test their psychometric parameters and, further, to examine associations of IE and ME with an intake of selected food groups, i.e., healthy foods (fresh and processed vegetables, fresh fruit) and unhealthy foods (sweets, salty snacks). A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 in a group of 1000 Polish adults (500 women and 500 men) aged 18–65 (mean age = 41.3 ± 13.6 years). The factor structure was assessed with exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analysis as well as structural equation modeling (SEM). Measurement invariance across gender was assessed with multiple-group analysis. Internal consistency and discriminant validity of the two scales was tested. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to examine the correlation between IES-2 and MES subscales with food intake. A 4-factor, 16-item structure was confirmed for IES-2, while EFA and CFA revealed a 3-factor, 17-item structure of MES. Both scales demonstrated adequate internal consistency and discriminant validity. Full metric and partial scalar invariance were found for IES-2, while MES proved partial invariances. “Awareness” (MES) and “Body–Food Choice Congruence” (IES-2) positively correlated with intake of healthy foods and negatively with the intake of unhealthy ones. “Eating For Physical Rather Than Emotional Reasons” (IES-2) and “Act with awareness” (MES) favored lower intake of unhealthy foods, whereas “Unconditional Permission to Eat” and “Reliance on Hunger and Satiety Cues” (IES-2) showed an inverse relationship. A greater score in “Acceptance” (MES) was conducive to lower intake of all foods except sweets. The results confirmed that adapted versions of the IES-2 and MES are valid and reliable measures to assess IE and ME among Polish adults. Different IE and ME domains may similarly explain intake of healthy and unhealthy foods, yet within a single eating style, individual domains might have the opposite effect. Future studies should confirm our findings with the inclusion of mediating factors, such as other eating styles, childhood experiences, dieting, etc.

Bidirectional relationships between intuitive eating and shape and weight overvaluation, dissatisfaction, preoccupation, and fear of weight gain: A prospective study

Using a prospective design, we investigated possible bi-directional relationships between intuitive eating and four empirically distinct components of negative body image: overvaluation (judgements of self-worth contingent upon weight/shape), dissatisfaction (general discontent with weight/shape), preoccupation (ruminative thinking about weight/shape), and fear of weight gain. We assessed adult women at baseline (T1) and four-month follow-up (T2), as prior work has demonstrated that this time lag is sufficient to detect change in intuitive eating scores. After adjusting for T1 intuitive eating scores and demographic confounds, higher T1 dissatisfaction was the only body image component to significantly predict lower T2 intuitive eating scores in both univariate and multivariate models. Higher T1 intuitive eating scores also significantly predicted lower scores on each of the four negative body image components at T2. Findings suggest that general body discontent may be one of the more important body image variables that lead to decreases in intuitive eating principles. Present findings also add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating the potentially adaptive role of intuitive eating on psychological health indices.

Intuitive eating in light of other eating styles and motives: Experiences with construct validity and the Hungarian adaptation of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2

Intuitive eating (IE), an adaptive eating approach, has been identified as a plausible positive determinant of physical and mental well-being. This cross-sectional survey study aimed to examine the construct validity of IE measured by the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2). The conceptual network of different adaptive and maladaptive eating behaviors was also explored. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), measurement invariance testing, and correlation analyses were applied on the data from a sample of 732 Hungarian university students. Validating variables included several eating behavior styles (i.e., obesogenic eating behaviors, mindful eating [ME], and dieting practices) and motivational factors (i.e., autonomous, controlled, and amotivational sources of healthy eating, and internalization of the thin and muscular body ideals). The results of the CFA supported the original four-factor structure of the IES-2 without a global second-order factor. The scale exhibited measurement invariance on the scalar level across sexes and BMI categories. The IES-2 subscales showed adequate reliability. IE and ME were found to be positively related but conceptually distinct constructs. Autonomous motivation for healthy eating, restrained eating, and current dieting exhibited different yet meaningful associations to IE on the subscale level. Undertaking subscale-level analyses is recommended when using the IES-2.

Dimensionality and psychometric properties of an Italian translation of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2): An assessment using a bifactor exploratory structural equation modelling framework

The construct of intuitive eating is most often measured using the 23-item Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), but previous studies have typically relied solely on confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to understand IES-2 dimensionality. In contrast, a bifactor exploratory structural equation modelling (B-ESEM) framework offers a more realistic account of IES-2 multidimensionality. Here, we assessed the psychometric properties of a novel Italian translation using a combination of exploratory factor analysis and B-ESEM. A total of 950 adults completed the IES-2 alongside measures of positive body image, disordered eating, and psychological well-being. Results indicated that a 4-factor B-ESEM model had adequate fit to the data and that fit was improved when the correlated uniqueness of seven negatively worded IES-2 items was accounted for. This model of IES-2 scores showed adequate internal consistency and good test-retest reliability up to three weeks. Evidence of construct validity was good in terms of a global IES-2 factor, and broadly supported in terms of its specific-factors. These results highlight the utility of a B-ESEM framework for understanding the dimensionality of IES-2 scores and may help scholars better understand the extent to which the IES-2 adequately operationalises the construct of intuitive eating.

Intuitive eating and its psychological correlates: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Intuitive eating is an adaptive style of eating that has generated significant research attention. Theoretically, intuitive eating is a core construct that features prominently in the Acceptance Model of Intuitive Eating, a framework that explains how positive environmental influences can foster intuitive eating practices via body appreciation. Empirically, intuitive eating has been connected to a broad range of adaptive mental health indices. At present, a quantitative synthesis of intuitive eating and its correlates has yet to be conducted. This was the objective of the current meta-analysis.

METHOD

Ninety-seven studies (89% cross-sectional) were included. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted on 23 psychological correlates, divided into three clusters: eating behavior and body image disturbances, positive body image and other adaptive factors, and general psychopathology. Meta-analytic path analyses were also computed to test the validity of the Acceptance Model.

RESULTS

Intuitive eating was inversely associated with multiple indices of eating pathology, body image disturbances, and psychopathology (rs = -.23 to -.58). Intuitive eating was positively associated with numerous positive psychological constructs, such as positive body image, self-esteem, and wellbeing (rs = .20 to .58). Men reported higher levels of intuitive eating than women (d = 0.39), with differences being largest in Caucasian samples. Meta-analytic path analyses strongly supported the hypothesized pathways specified in the Acceptance Model of Intuitive Eating.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a strong evidence base for intuitive eating's connection to numerous adaptive psychological constructs. Attention should now shift toward prospective and experimental designs so that the temporal nature of these relationships can be identified.

Psychometric properties of a Romanian translation of the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS)

The Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS; Alleva et al., 2017) is a 7-item measure of an individual's appreciation of their body for what it can do and is capable of doing. Although the instrument is increasingly used in interventionist studies, its psychometric properties have been infrequently investigated outside Anglophone populations. Here, we examined psychometric properties of a novel Romanian translation of the FAS. An online sample of 959 Romanian adults (18-73 years old) completed the Romanian FAS, and validated measures of positive body image (body appreciation), negative body image (weight discrepancy in women, drive for muscularity in men), eating disorder symptomatology, and psychological well-being (self-esteem, gratitude). Exploratory factor analyses led to the extraction of a 1-dimensional model of FAS scores, which we confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. FAS scores achieved scalar invariance across sex, but the sex difference in latent FAS scores did not reach significance (d = 0.15). FAS scores had adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability up to four weeks, and further analyses provided evidence of convergent, construct, and incremental validity. These results support the psychometric properties of the Romanian FAS and present evidence of the importance of functionality appreciation in relation to healthier body image and psychological well-being.

Longitudinal associations between intuitive eating and weight-related behaviors in a population-based sample of young adults

Intuitive eating has been associated with markers of better health in cross-sectional studies, but less is known about long-term associations between intuitive eating and subsequent eating and weight-related behaviors. This study assessed how intuitive eating in early adulthood is related to weight status, dieting, healthy and unhealthy weight control behaviors, and binge eating with loss of control five years later. Young adults (N = 1660) were asked about intuitive eating as part of the 2008-2009 third wave of the Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults) longitudinal cohort study. Weight status, dieting, healthy and unhealthy weight control behaviors, and binge eating with loss of control were assessed during both the third (EAT-III: mean age 25.3 ± 1.5) and fourth (EAT-IV mean age 31.1 ± 1.5) waves. In analyses adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, both male and female intuitive eaters had a lower prevalence of high weight status and lower engagement in dieting, unhealthy weight control behaviors, and binge eating at the 5-year follow-up, compared to non-intuitive eaters. Among women, after additional adjustment for EAT-III values for the respective outcome measures, intuitive eating was unrelated to any of the behaviors studied at 5-year follow-up. Among men, intuitive eating predicted a lower likelihood of engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors (intuitive eaters: 30.0% vs. non-intuitive: 41.9%, p = 0.002) and binge eating (intuitive eaters: 0.9% vs. non-intuitive: 1.5%, p = 0.046) independent of participating in these behaviors at EAT-III. In a population-based sample of young adults, intuitive eating was associated with better markers of eating and weight-related behaviors five years later, suggesting intuitive eating may have potential long-term benefits.